Cleansers are one of my favourite items of skincare - I just love the whole ritual and the feeling of fresh, clean skin. I wish I could keep that feeling the whole day! I liken them to a bit like breakfast (which is my favourite meal of the day) as they're both important starts to my daily routine.
I am getting nearer to finishing several cleansers (but haven't been using these all at once! This is more over the space of about 6 months or so) so thought I'd do a quickish review of each. (Just for reference I have combo/acne skin, and this is just how the products worked for me) :
Caudalie Cleansing Water
I bought this in the hopes of it being like Bioderma's Sensibio/Crealine cleansing water. This doesn't quite match the makeup removal powers of Bioderma but it does a reasonable job although some of my more stubborn mascaras definitely need a balm/oil cleanser. I mostly use this for eye makeup removal rather then the whole face as I need a lot to get rid of all my makeup and would get through it very quickly. It feels very gentle and has a lovely soft and subtle cucumber and mild mint scent. Overall I think it's better for more lighter makeup removal.Evolve Daily Detox Facial Wash
This was a bit of a surprise as it is a runny gel texture that has a mild lather and overall just feels gentle and nothing particularly special. But after using it for a while I noticed that this unassuming cleanser really does make the face feel very clean and soft without stripping it. I do think it helps a bit in keeping the skin clearer as well. The only slight negative I have noticed is that it doesn't work as well for my skin if I use this when I am using my topical acne gel (Duac) as it makes my skin feel a little drier. It has a mild aloe vera type scent that feels quite refreshing. I usually go for gel cleansers in the summer months, but this has been pleasant to use at the moment as well.Avene Gentle Gel Cleanser
I started using this before Ren's ClearCalm 3 range but I didn't return to it as even though it does an ok job of cleansing it doesn't do really anything beyond this for me. It's not a product that makes me look forward to the whole cleansing ritual as it feels a bit average. This may be good for someone who doesn't have as problematic a skin as mine but is not for me I'm afraid.Les Fleurs des Bach Cleansing Milk (Anti-Stress)
Wipe-off cleansing milks are not a formula I generally tend to go for, I feel like I am wasting the product as I have to use a lot to remove anything. The reasons I got this were that it was on sale and also I quite liked how calming and soothing it sounded. This is another surprise like as it has a beautiful scent that doesn't smell strongly of lavender as I initially thought it might (I had used the shower gel which did have more of a lavender scent to it). It feels quite nourishing but not in a way that is overpowering for my skin. It is quite effective for makeup removal but as I wear quite a bit around my eyes, it doesn't get every last scrap off as thoroughly as an oil/balm would. The packaging is a lovely classical style dark glass bottle with a convenient pump. It think it is a little bit pricey for a cream cleanser as at full price this is about £20 - I don't use this often but it didn't take me very long to get through half the bottle.Emma Hardie Amazing Face Cleanser
I had read about this cleanser on the lovely blogs London Makeup Girl and Make-Up By Katy and was intrigued so tested this out in SpaceNK and quite liked the texture and general feel. It is a wonderful soft balm that is easy to scoop a little of and massage onto the skin. A few balms I have tried in the past have felt a bit waxy/greasy and do not remove very easily even with a muslin cloth but this removes well as it emulsifies into a creamy milk when mixed with a little water. I have been using this only in the evenings to remove makeup and while I necessarily don't think I need to double-cleanse (as it does thoroughly remove everything), I do on most days anyway out of habit just to make sure I have really got everything off. This lasts a good while as it spreads well over the skin so I only use a little at a time. I have been using this for almost 4 months and I still have about 1/3 left. It is very gentle around the eyes and doesn't irritate and overall makes my skin feel clean, soft and nourished. This is comforting in the colder months and good for drier/flaky patches as the cleanser used with a cloth really helps to smooth the skin and get rid of any dryness.
All purchased by me
